Electrical connector



Feb. 4, 1969 s. J. Knol.,

l ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 'Fuga sept. ze, 1966 FllfwTlCllll v United StatesPatent O 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector foruse with shielded coaxial cable comprising a male connector elementhaving a contact element yreceived by an insulating washer and held inassembled relationship within a shell, and a female connector elementtelescopically receivable within the male shell having a shield elementelectrically engageable with the shield of the cable, an inner tubularcontact element engageable with the male contact element and with thecentral conducting lead of the cable, and an insulating sleeve disposedbetween the shield element and the female contact element. The shieldelement has an opening through which a deforming element can be insertedto deform the sleeve without deforming the shield element in order tocompress the female contact element against the central conducting leadand to interlock the sleeve with the shield element and with the femalecontact element to define a unitized assembly.

The present invention relates to a connector and more particularly to animproved electrical connector and means for assembly thereof, saidconnector having male and female elements and being specifically adaptedfor use with shielded coaxial cable.

Electrical connector assemblies adapted for use with shielded coaxialcable frequently are of the type where the sub-elements of the connectorare threadably, or otherwise detachably, assembled. A press-t or otherfrictional engagement of the elements of the connector assembly may notgenerally be employed because of the concept of heavy duty use ofshielded coaxial cable.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an improvedelectrical connector for use with shielded coaxial cable wherein thesub-elements of the connector assembly, in both the male and femaleconnector elements, are frictionally interengaged or otherwisemaintained in assembled relation by a press-fit or crimping ofassociated elements. In this manner reliability of the connectorassembly may be improved `'and substantial economy is affected inproduction of the electrical connector assembly.

It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to providean improved electrical connector assembly for use with shielded coaxialcable.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an improved means for assembly of connector elements throughinsulating sleeves, or the like.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of animproved electrical connector assembly having male and female connectorelements and wherein the sub-elements of the assembly are maintained inassembled relation by frictional interengagement or by means of apress-fit.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of animproved electrical connector assembly for use with shielded coaxialcable wherein the electrical conducting and ground elements of the maleconnector unit of the assembly are maintained in assembled relation by adeflectable insulating washer.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an improved electrical connector assembly for use with shieldedcoaxial cable which is Patented Feb. 4, 1969 economical to manufacture,has high functional reliability characteristics and is durable in use.

Our invention is set forth with particularity in the claims appendedhereto. However, other objects and advantages of the present inventionmay readily be appreciated by reading the detailed description of theinvention set forth hereinbelow in connection with the drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a composite view of the electrical connector assembly of thepresent invention, partly in section, and showing the male and femaleconnector elements in assembled relation;

FIGURE 2 is another view of the connector assembly set forth in FIGURE lwith the male and female connector elements shown in disconnectedrelation;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View of the male connector element of theassembly of the present invention showing the element mounted in anopening in a chassis, with the insulating washer deposited .in theopening at the base of the shell but without the conductor elementtherein;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the electricalcontact element an-d insulating sleeve of the female connector elementof the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the outer, shield engaging shell of thefemale connector element of the assembly illustrated FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 6 is another view of the female connector element of the assemblyset forth in FIGURE 1, partly in section, and schematically illustratingthe mode of assembly of the cable to the female connector element.

Referring more particularity now to the drawings, the connector assemblyis shown in a composite View in FIG- URE 1. The assembly includes a maleconnector element 10 and female connector element 12. The male element10 is received within an opening 14 of the chassis 16. A positioningshell 18 is telescopically received over the outer shell 11 tofacilitate orientation of the male element 10 with respect to thechassis 16. As shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the positioningelement 18 is provided with a flange 20 extending radially outwardlytherefrom. The male element is inserted within the opening 14 of thechassis 16 until the flange 20 is in abutting relation with the matingsurface of the chassis 16 thereby orienting the male member 10 withinthe chassis.

The female connector element 12 of the electrical connector assembly ofthe present invention is telescopically slidably received within thecentral opening 22 of the male element 10 and defines electrical andshielding inter engagement with the male element as described in detailhereinbelow.

As shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings the male connectorelement 10 of the electrical connector assembly is defined by an outershell 11, a flanged positioning member 18, a combination insulating andassembly washer 24 and an electrical contact element 26. The malecontact element 10 is assembled by inserting the washer 24 into theopening 22 of the outer shell 11. As shown in Idetail in FIGURE 3 of thedrawings. The washer 24 has a central opening 25, a large diameterportion 28 and a smaller diameter portion 30. The smaller diameterportion 30 of the washer 24 is inserted into the opening 13 of the outershell 11. When the washer portion 30 is fully within the opening 13 thelarge diameter portion 28 will rest against the end wall of the outershell defined about the opening 13.

The electrical contact element 26 includes a pair of axially spacedcollars 32 and 34. The end 26 of the contact element 26 adjacent thecollar 34 is inserted into the opening 25 of the washer 24 from thelarge diameter portion 28 towards the small `diameter portion 30thereof. The collar 34 of the contact element 26 is larger in diameterthan the opening and, accordingly, must be forced into said opening. Asshown in the drawings, the outer Wall of the large diameter portion 28is in slightly spaced relation to the inner Wall V22 of the shell 11.Accordingly, as the collar 34 is forced through the portion 28, theTeflon Washer portion 28 may deflect radially to accommodate passage ofsaid collar 34. The contact element 26 is inserted into the opening 25of washer 24 until the second collar 32 is in abutting relation to theouter surface of the Washer portion 28. At this stage of insertion thecollar element 34 will be within the smaller diameter portion of thewasher 24. As shown in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, the Teflonmaterial defined in the por- Y tion 30 of washer 24 will be compressedbetween the collar 34 and the inner wall dened by the opening 13. Inthis manner some of the material of the Washer is deflected outwardlysince it isnnot restrained beyond the outer end Wall of the shell 11 andcan freely be deected radially. In this manner the Washer 24 serves bothto insulate the contact element 26 from the shell 11 of the male contactelement and at the same time holds the contact element 26 in assembledrelation with the said shell. It can readily be seen that the contactelement 26 and Washer 24 are prevented from moving axially with respectto the shell 11 by abutment of the large diameter portion 28 of thewasher 24 with the end wall of the shell and by the shoulder areadefined by the smaller -diameter portion 30 of the washer 24 with thecollar 34 of the contact element 26 is inserted within that portion. Theadvantage of using a Teflon material for the washer 24, of course,resides in the characteristic low coeicient of friction of Teflon andthe resultant relative ease of insertion of the element 26 within theopening 25.

The female connector element 12 of the electrical connector assemblydescribed herein includes an outer shield element 40, an insulatingsleeve 42 and a tubular contact element 44 in assembled relation.

The tubular contact element 44 may be a rolled form and includes a rstportion 46 which is adapted to engage the male contact element 26 and asecond portion 48 which is electrically joined to the central conductinglead 50 of the shielded coaxial cable 52. The coaxial cable 52, however,is not physically attached to the female connector element until suchtime as the sub-elements of the female connector are in assembledrelation as defined hereinbelow. The insulating sleeve 42 (which may beof polyvinyl chloride) is telescopically received over the tubularcontact element 44. The assembled sleeve 42 and tubular contact element44 are positioned within the central opening 41 of the shield element40. The shield element 40 is provided with an opening 43 (FIG. 5) alonga portion of its axial length and extending less than 120circumferentally of said formed shield 40. The opening 43 of the shield40 is positioned along the axial length of the shield such that it willbe in aligned relation with the portion 48 of the tubular contactelement 44 when the sub-elements of the female connector are inassembled relation.

The shielded coaxial cable 52 is secured to the female connector element40 and the female connector element is secured in assembled relation inthe manner set forth hereinbelow. Portions of the outer insulating cover51 of the coaxial cable 52, the shield 56 and inner insulating material57 first are sheared away to expose a pre-determined length of thecentral electrically conducting lead 50. A further portion of the shield56 of the coax cable 52 then is exposed by removal of an additionalsection of the outer insulating layer 51. The coax cable 52` then isinserted ito the female connector element 40 so that the exposed leadportion 50 extends into the portion 48 of the tubular contact element 44and the exposed shield portion of said cable 52 is telescopicallyreceived within the portion 58 of the element 40. A deforming tool 60then is inserted through the opening 43 of the element 40 and againstthe sleeve 42 of the female connector element 12, The deforming element60 then is moved inwardly with respect to the female connector 12 movingthe sleeve 42 -and the portion 48 of the tubular contact element 44 infront of its path of travel. It can readily be seen that the deformedsleeve and portion 48 will be crimped against the electrical lead 50 tophysically secure the sleeve 42, tubular contact element 44 andelectrical lead 50 in Iassembled relation.

As shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, the element 40 is provided withspaced apart identations 47 opposite the opening 43. When the deformingtool 60 is pressed against the female connector element, asschematically represented in FIGURE 6, the sleeve 42 will ow to conformor adapt itself to the indentations 47 on the inner wall of the element40 thereby to lock the sleeve 42 with respect to the element 40. Also,the plastic material of the sleeve 42 will flow into theindentations inthe area opposite the opening 43 to lock the sleeve 42 with respect tothe element 44. As noted above, of course, the sleeve 42 will bedeflected inwardly in the `area adjacent the deforming tool 60 onassembly of the female connector element to cause material of the sleeveto flow into the indentations adjacent the tool 60 and to cause theportion 48 of the female contact 44 to move into interlocking engagementto define electrical contact with the entral conducting lead 50 of thecoaxial cable S2.

The ears A and B of the portion 58 of the element 40 then are folded orrolled over the exposed shield 56 of the coax cable 52 to completelyencircle it. A crimping tool then is utilized to crimp the portion 58securely against the shield 56 yand the outer wall of sleeve 42 tophysically secure the shield 56, sleeve 42 and element 40 in assembledrelation.

In use the male connector element 10 may be secured to a chassis 16 asnoted hereinabove. The female connector element 12 is brought intoengagement with the male element by insertion of the female assemblywithin the opening 22 of the outer shell 11 of the male element 10. Asshown in the drawings the male element 26 is telescopically receivedwithin the opening of the portion 46 of female contact element `44 todefine an electrical path from the lead 50, through the element 44 andto the male element 26. Spurious or undesired signals are fed to thechassis 16 and to ground through the outer shell 11 of the ymale element10, shield element 40 of the female connector element and the shield 56of the coax -cable 52.

As illustrated in detail in FIGURES 4 and 6 of the drawings the portion46 of the tubular contact element 44 is slightly smaller in diameterthan the inside diameter of the -central opening in the sleeve 42. Thisspacing is provided to accommodate the radial expansion that will beencountered when the male contact element 26 is inserted within theportion 46 of the tubular contact element. This assures a good physicaland electrical contact between the mating elements and provides a meansfor defning a reliable electrical path between the male and femaleelements of the electrical connector assembly.

While I have specifically described a preferred embodiment of theinvention set forth herein it can readily be seen that other embodimentsand modications can be derived which will not depart from the truespirit and scope of the invention. By the appended claims I intend tosecure all such alternative embodiments and modifications as may fallwithin their true spirit and scope.

What I intend to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved electrical connector assembly for `use with shieldedcoaxial cable comprisin-g, in combination:

a male connector element having an outer shell open at both ends, aninsulating washer disposed in one open shell end and an electricalcontact element received by said washer and defining an assembledstructure wherein the washer is deformed by the contact element to holdthe contact element and was-her in as sembled relation and againstmovement axially of the shell; and

a female connector element telescopically received within said maleshell through the other open end thereof and having a shield elementelectrically engageable with the shield of the cable by crimpingthereagainst, an insulating sleeve having an axial opening along itsfull length and telescopically received within the shield element, atubular contact element disposed within the axial opening of saidsleeve, said shield element 'having means to permit said sleeve andfemale contact element to be held in assembled relation by inwarddeformation of the sleeve `and the female contact element withoutattendant deformation of the shield element, said inward deformationalso adapted to secure the female contact element to the conductor ofthe shielded coaxial cable by crimping it thereagainst, said shieldelement being deformed slightly in a crimping manner to secure it to thesleeve, said tubular contact element being receivable over the contactelement of the male element to define a continuous electrical paththrough the connector.

2. The connector yof claim 1 wherein the washer is of `a material havinga low coeicient of `friction to facilitate insertion of said washerWithin the shell and of the male contact element within the washer.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the washer may not readily bedeected whereby yonce deformed by insertion of the male contact elementit will define a stable assembled condition for the connector.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein the washer is formed fromtetrafluorethylene and the sleeve is formed from polyvinylchloride.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein the shield element has an openingthrough which the deformation of the sleeve may be performed.

6. The method of assembling an electrical connector for use with ashielded coaxial cable, said connector having an outer shield, an innerelectrical contact element with an insulating sleeve disposedtherebetween and a coaxial cable receivable therein for assemblythereto, the method of assembly comprising the steps of: placing thecoaxial cable in said connector with its central conducting leaddisposed within the inner electrical contact element and the shield ofthe cable in juxtaposed relation to the outer shield of the connector;inserting a deforming element through an opening in the shield, movingsaid deforming element against the insulating sleeve of the connector todeform the sleeve radially inwardly without deforming the outer shieldof the connector, thereby cornpressing the inner electrical contactelement against the central conducting lead of the cable andinterlocking the sleeve with the outer shield and with the innerelectrical Contact element of the connector to define a unitizedassembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,396,725 3/ 1946 Thomas.

2,839,595 6/1958 Felts et al 339-177 X 2,983,895 5/1961 Pasik 339-276 X3,137,925 6/1964 Wahl 339-276 X 3,193,895 7/1965 Oxley 339-126 X3,221,290 1l/1965 Stark et al 339-276 X 3,295,094 12/1966 Delvon et al339-276 X 3,297,978 1/1967 Stark 339-276 X 3,302,159 1/ 1967 Schumacher3.39-276` X FOREIGN PATENTS l,l57,274 12/1957 France. 1,339,763 9/1963France.

918,369 2/1963 Great Britain.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

